Mohamed Salah will get the Liverpool farewell he deserves -- but he'll also leave a huge void

All good things must come to an end. Even Mohamed Salah -- the epitome of a good thing for Liverpool over the past eight-and-a-half years -- cannot go on forever.

On Tuesday, the Egypt international shocked the football world by confirming he will depart Anfield at the end of the current season. But while the timing of Salah's announcement was unexpected, the past few months have increasingly appeared to be setting the stage for his Liverpool curtain call.

After all, it was less than four months ago that serious doubt was cast over the forward's immediate future. Following the Reds' 3-3 draw with Leeds United, he sounded off to reporters, claiming he had been "thrown under the bus" amid the team's poor run of form.

The situation initially seemed irretrievable -- and yet, after being omitted from Liverpool's travelling party for their subsequent trip to Inter Milan, Salah was later reintegrated into the squad.

It is a testament to his mental fortitude -- and to that of head coach Arne Slot -- that a civil resolution was able to be reached. Salah had once again become a nearly ever-present for Liverpool after returning from the Africa Cup of Nations in late January, before he was forced to miss the weekend's clash with Brighton & Hove Albion with a muscle problem.

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